Elma M. Burgart

Elma M. Burgart, age 97, of New Hampton, IA passed away on Friday, July 19, 2013 at New Hampton Nursing and Rehab surrounded by her family. Elma Maebelle Burgart was born on May 27, 1916 to Elmer and Rosabel (Inwards) Larsen at Maple Leaf, IA. She attended country school near Saratoga, IA. Later, she worked at the Elma Hospital in Elma and worked for the Olds family of Charles City as a housekeeper. While working as a housekeeper in Fort Dodge she met her future husband, Marvin Burgart, becoming his wife on October 9, 1940 at Immaculate Conception Church in North Washington. In 1941, the couple purchased their present farm west of Jerico. There the couple farmed and raised their family of nine children. On June 19, 2009, Elma entered into New Hampton Nursing and Rehab. Elma enjoyed birdwatching, traveling, dancing, crocheting, embroidering, and playing cards. Her family was most important to her. Elma was a member of Holy Family Parish – St. Joseph Center, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Holy Family Rosary Society, and Happy Homemakers. Elma is survived by her children, Rose (Richard) Holschlag of New Hampton, Ruth (Dick) Zuehl of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Michael (Colleen) Burgart of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Beverly (Paul) Veres of Alexandria, VA, Judith (Louis) Hafner of Duluth, GA, Norbert Burgart of Los Angeles, CA, Timothy Burgart of Ionia, IA, Kathleen (David) McGraw of Charleston, SC, Donald (Janice) Burgart of New Hampton; 29 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; seven great-great grandchildren; her sister, Rose Marie “Susie” (Frank) Belmont of Vista, CA and her sisters-in-law, Mavis Burgart and Francella Burgart, both of New Hampton. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin on May 10, 2005; her sisters, Laura, Mildred and Arlene; her brothers, Victor, Nels “Duke”, Leonard, Donald, Elmer “Kenneth” and Duwayne; one granddaughter, Yvonne Los on May 19, 1993 and one infant grandson. Cemetery: Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton. Memorials may be directed to the family. Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00pm on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Conway-Markham Funeral Home in New Hampton. Visitation will continue at the church one hour prior to the funeral mass on Wednesday. A Mass of Christian Burial for Elma will be held at 11:00am, Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at Holy Family Parish – St. Joseph’s Center in New Hampton, IA with Father Mark Osterhaus celebrating the mass.